Spring on the Horizon
I honestly checked my face for sunburn after a full day on the water yesterday - that about sums up the first week of February here in Northwest Michigan.
A wicked shot of deep snow and bitter cold temps in January put the brakes on steelhead fishing altogether. Holes in fly boxes were filled and gear orders were made to replenish winter casualties.
The recent warm-up brought a gradual bump in water levels to our creeks and provided a nice stain. There was a lot of anticipation around this snowmelt, as I had serious hopes for a big push of fresh fish to shuffle the deck.
The high water undoubtedly welcomed a new wave of steelhead; although from fishing hard this past week, it didn’t meet my overzealous expectations.
The fall holdover fish have been a lot more active, and in between them have been some explosive chromers fresh from the big lake. There still seems to be a lot of “super skips” around - fish in that 1-3 pound class. They fight hard, usually breaking the surface a couple times but rarely avoid the net.
Overall, we’re in pretty good shape. I’m excited to fish through the next several weeks despite the “normal” winter weather setting back in this weekend.
It may be ideal: we have new fish, active holdovers, and now the temps are settling to where we don’t have to worry as much about a big early spawning event.
Even in the high, off-colored water, natural egg flies and beads produced the most fish. It always amazes me how well steelhead and trout can see in low visibility. Sure, we got some on “big and bright”, but pale oranges, yellows, and peach continue to out-produce.
Guide Trips
I have plenty of open dates available in February and more scattered throughout March and April. With the busiest time of year coming soon, we will continue to fish the quietest waters possible. By working with private landowners, putting hundreds of hours on the water scouting, and dragging boats a bit farther than most, we find ourselves in relative solitude pursuing steelhead in the spring.
A quick reminder on my daily rates:
Full Day (8-9 Hours) 2 People - $450.00
Full Day (8-9 Hours) 1 Person - $375.00
Half Day (4-5 Hours) 1-2 People - $325.00
As always, I provide all equipment, flies, rods, etc. for all trip options. Beverages and lunch are offered on full day trips at no additional charge.
For reference, our daily rates are currently 10-25% below the industry standard. Green Drake Outfitters offers an exceptional value in the guided experience.
Upcoming Events
On February 29th, from 6-8pm, I will be hosting a FREE class on spring steelhead fishing at Nomad Anglers Fly Shop in Grand Rapids.
I’ll be covering a lot of info here, from my rod setups, fly selections, reading spring water, and quite a bit more. Essentially all of the information I would relay on a guided trip. If you’re new to the steelhead game or would like to hear a different perspective on tactics, this would be a good one to check out. The Nomad crew is top notch and it’s a great place to stock up on spring tying materials.
Good days ahead. Late winter can be a fantastic time of year for the fly angler in Michigan. Thanks for reading, good luck to everyone on the water over the next several weeks as we head toward spring.
Cole DeVault